The Ascent of a King’s Man

Thomas Cromwell’s rise in Henry VIII’s service since 1530 appeared unstoppable. By early 1536, the world seemed at his feet. He had persuaded Parliament to pass legislation consolidating his reforms—measures with truly revolutionary implications. His court position and the king’s favor reached unprecedented heights.

This contrasted sharply with Queen Anne Boleyn’s fortunes. Her moments of triumph were fleeting, each overshadowed by setbacks. Most critically, after the birth of her unexpected daughter Elizabeth, Anne failed to deliver the male heir she had promised Henry. She endured at least two miscarriages. Yet 1536 began hopefully—Anne was pregnant again, and the pregnancy passed its dangerous early weeks, reviving hopes for the son Henry craved.

The Death of Catherine of Aragon

More good news followed. Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife, had long been a thorn in Anne’s side. Catherine’s steadfast refusal to accept the annulment of her marriage earned her widespread sympathy. As long as she lived, the English people would never fully accept Anne. But Catherine’s health had deteriorated rapidly in late 1535, worsened by poor conditions in her confinement. Cromwell reported in December: “The widow of Prince Arthur is in a sorry state.”

On January 7, 1536, Anne rejoiced at the news of her rival’s death. Cromwell, too, was pleased. Writing to Bishop Gardiner the next day, he noted Catherine’s passing with barely concealed triumph, alluding to the “sin” of her marriage to her late husband’s brother. Catherine had embodied everything Cromwell sought to dismantle—she was a symbol of resistance to his reforms. Her death was so opportune that some, like Ambassador Chapuys, suspected foul play.

Poison Rumors and Political Maneuvering

Chapuys openly speculated that Cromwell had orchestrated Catherine’s death, citing Cromwell’s own 1534 threat that “the deaths of the queen and princess would end all disputes.” The ambassador reported that Catherine’s symptoms—violent stomach pains, inability to retain food—suggested poisoning. An autopsy allegedly revealed a blackened heart that resisted washing, fueling suspicions.

Modern historians generally dismiss poisoning claims, attributing Catherine’s death to cancer (which also claimed her daughter Mary). Yet the rumors persisted, reflecting the toxic political climate. Cromwell wasted no time capitalizing on Catherine’s death, instructing diplomats to emphasize that it removed the last obstacle between Henry and Emperor Charles V.

Anne’s Precarious Position

Anne’s apparent triumph was short-lived. On January 29—the day Catherine was buried—Anne miscarried a 15-week-old male fetus. Chapuys gleefully reported: “The concubine has miscarried… the king’s sorrow has turned to anger.” Henry, who had once been inseparable from Anne, now barely spoke to her. Worse, his attentions had turned to Jane Seymour.

Anne blamed her miscarriage on discovering Henry’s affection for Jane, claiming, “My heart broke when I saw he loved another.” Her position unraveled rapidly. By April, Cromwell—once her ally—began distancing himself. When Anne’s almoner, John Skip, delivered a sermon thinly attacking Cromwell as a “wicked counselor” akin to the biblical Haman, the breach became public.

Cromwell’s Dangerous Gambit

Recognizing Anne’s vulnerability, Cromwell allied with conservative courtiers like Nicholas Carew, who sought to replace Anne with Jane Seymour. This was an uneasy alliance—Carew’s faction despised Cromwell’s low birth and reformist policies. Yet mutual interest bound them: Cromwell needed aristocratic support to bring down Anne; the conservatives needed his influence with the king.

Cromwell also pursued a pro-Imperial foreign policy against Henry’s wishes, secretly meeting with Chapuys to advocate an alliance with Charles V. When Henry discovered this, he humiliated Cromwell in front of the court. The episode was a stark reminder of Cromwell’s precarious position—no minister, however powerful, could defy the king’s will.

The Fall of Anne Boleyn

By late April 1536, Cromwell moved decisively against Anne. Investigations into her conduct—possibly fueled by fabricated evidence—led to arrests. Anne was accused of adultery, incest, and treason. Cromwell orchestrated the legal proceedings, ensuring swift convictions. On May 19, Anne was executed.

Jane Seymour married Henry days later. Cromwell had survived the crisis, but his relationship with Henry had changed. The king’s trust was no longer absolute. Where Cromwell had once acted with confidence, he now tread carefully, aware that his power depended entirely on royal favor.

Legacy of a Revolutionary Minister

Cromwell’s role in Anne’s downfall marked both the peak of his influence and the beginning of his decline. His revolutionary reforms—the dissolution of the monasteries, the break with Rome—had reshaped England. Yet his reliance on Henry’s favor proved his undoing. In 1540, with the king’s mood shifting again, Cromwell was arrested and executed, his fall as sudden as his rise.

His legacy endured. The administrative reforms he implemented strengthened the English state, and his religious policies laid groundwork for the Protestant Reformation in England. The ruthless pragmatism that defined his career—evident in his handling of Anne’s downfall—became a template for Tudor statecraft.

Cromwell’s story remains a gripping tale of power, ambition, and the perilous politics of Henry VIII’s court—a world where today’s favorite could be tomorrow’s condemned traitor.